February 4, 2005

Letters to the Editor

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More resources needed for students with ­learning differences

Once again, I’ve had to remove my son from another Catholic school. He’s back in the Indianapolis Public Schools and doing quite well academically. He’s attended three parochial schools and had a short stint at a parent-taught private Catholic school, along with a year of home schooling (using a program from a Catholic home school publisher).

My son is bright, funny and a very compassionate young man. However, he has some mild learning differences with math and language arts.

I find it ironic, yet very sad, that the Catholic community today is so motivated to promote the value of a Catholic education in our youth, but cannot seem to pull together an academic program in at least a couple of the parish schools geared toward children with disabilities or differences such as ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, high-functioning autism and a host of other challenges.

I’m sure many of the parents in our archdiocese are aware of this and deal with it on a daily basis. I think it’s time we recognize that not all of our children are going to conform to a “typical” style of learning and I would like to challenge the archdiocese to set up programs in at least one parish school in each of the deaneries to accommodate these children that learn a little differently, a little slower or need a little more help.

Perhaps if we find a way to do this, we could truly show that charity does begin at home and no child should be denied a Catholic education because they learn differently that what the rest of the world considers “normal.”

-Joy Wilson-Foster, Indianapolis

 

Response:

Catholic schools throughout the Arch­diocese of Indianapolis are working to increase the quantity and quality of special education services that are available to students.

Through Project E XCEED, in the past three years more than 200 teachers have been trained to assist students with special needs, especially dyslexia, in the regular classrooms. The expertise in our Catholic schools continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace.

The Office of Catholic Education is not aware of the specifics of this case, including the schools involved or the nature of the child’s needs, but in the past few years we have increased the schools’ capacity to deal with learning differences for the vast majority of students.

For additional information about the training that teachers are receiving and the progress being made, please contact the Office of Catholic Education.  

-Kathy Mears, associate director, schools, learning resources for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis

 

The gift of Fatima

The forgotten part of the Fatima Message is the observance of the five first Saturdays.

Our Lady promised Sister Lucia that she would assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation for all who would on the first Saturday of five consecutive months confess, receive holy Communion, say five decades of the holy rosary and meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the holy rosary (meditation is in addition to the saying of the holy rosary). Confession can be a week before or after the first Saturday.

Isn’t this the greatest gift we could receive? Also, we would be offering reparation for the blasphemies and ingratitude of unrepentant sinners and for peace in the world. Please start this coming first Saturday to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

-Mary Anne Grande, Greenfield

 

Mary’s message at Fatima can’t be denied

 

We appear to have entered an age of scandals. I write of one more. The worst, I think. I am calling your attention to how Catholics disrespect the Virgin Mary.

Mary has asked everyone to pray the rosary every day for the conversion of sinners and (thus) to obtain peace for the world. This is not being done.

Why not? How can priests, knowing what Mary has asked, refuse to help her, refuse to organize rosary devotions everywhere on a grand scale, joyful ones, filled with hope for lasting peace?

It isn’t because they don’t know. Mary’s message at Fatima is simple and irrefutable. It can’t be denied. It can only be ignored. And ignored it is. And sins continue and wars continue just as she said they would.

And Mary waits, waiting for our help.

Fatima was a mother’s daring initiative.

Shouldn’t we be ashamed? Isn’t it shameful not to help your mother when she asks you for help?

-Nihil Fitzpatrick, New Haven, Conn.

 

Lies published in The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code is a book that has lied about truth. This deception to the untrained is received as truth so that what is evil is called good. Sadder still is that the lie from the book is being made into a movie. How is it that so many Catholics remain silent as our sacred beliefs are being violated? Is there no strong man to stop the ransacking?

Truth begets strength and the truth is that the Blessed Virgin Mary is just that—virgin. Mary’s virginity is perpetual. She bore only one child, Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she remained a virgin during this mechanism of generation.

Hence, by this catechesis, all people of good will may hear the truth: Mary is the new Eve who God alone chose to give us our salvation. And this is why we go through Mary to go to Jesus.

Is there anyone who will write The Da Vinci Code with truth? Is there anyone who will call upon the motion picture industry to have a benefiting tribute to Mary accomplished now that it appears that The Da Vinci Code will be made into a movie?

-Stephen A. Kappes, Indianapolis  

 

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